Old Testament · Amos

Amos 3

Witnesses against Israel

1Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O sons of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying:

2"Only you have I known of all the families of the ground^a; therefore I will visit upon you all your iniquities.
3Shall two walk together, unless they have agreed?
4Will a lion roar in the forest when he has no prey? Will a young lion give forth his voice from his den if he has caught nothing?
5Will a bird fall on a snare on the earth where there is no lure for it? Will a snare spring up from the ground and catch nothing at all?
6Shall a shofar be blown in a city, and the people not tremble? Shall evil befall a city, and the LORD has not done it?
7For the Lord GOD will do nothing, unless he has revealed his counsel to his servants the prophets.
8A lion has roared, who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken, who will not prophesy?
9Proclaim it upon the palaces in Ashdod, and upon the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, "Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold the great tumults in her midst, and the oppressions in her midst."
10And they do not know to do right, declares the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.

11Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, "An adversary, and round about the land! And he shall bring down your strength from you, and your palaces shall be plundered."

12Thus says the LORD, "As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the lion two legs or a piece of an ear, so shall the sons of Israel who dwell in Samaria be rescued, with the corner of a couch, and in Damascus a bed.

13Hear, and testify against the house of Jacob, declares the Lord GOD, the God of hosts^b.
14For in the day that I visit the transgressions of Israel upon him, I will also visit upon the altars of Beth-el; and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the earth.
15And I will smite the winter house against the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and many houses shall come to an end," declares the LORD.